Reviews

Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri

suzid's review against another edition

emotional relaxing sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Vignettes of a woman life over a short period of time almost written like a stream of consciousness. There is a sadness to this book. Although the protagonist seems to have a lot of friends and acquaintances she feels lonely and outside of everyone else's life. Poignant yet giving great insight into  other people's lives as she watching them around her, both those she knows and those of strangers.

jmkaemmerlen's review against another edition

emotional reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

squigglyavo's review

hopeful reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

haileyreads_'s review against another edition

2.0

idk how to feel... so beautiful and yet so boring ??

popcorrrrnn's review against another edition

5.0

What an absolute gem! I’m so glad that after a terrible last read, I picked up something so so readable, delightful and easy. Amazing!

funktious's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A short novella, made up of moments in a woman's life over the course of a year. Lyrical, with beautiful imagery and a whole lot of feeling - sadness, regret and loneliness. I liked that Lahiri wasn't afraid to include the negative - some moments are tinged with bitterness and jealousy which make the narrator feel more real and human.

alicesreadinglife's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

3.5

davejeffallen's review against another edition

reflective relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

a mindfulness exercise through prose, with interrogations of what it means to move, stay, marinate, and think. 

americangoldfinch's review against another edition

4.0

Jhumpa Lahiri is such a talented writer it's almost unfair. I feel like if I was going to write a book, it would be something like Whereabouts, but it would be 1/10 as remarkable. The story is a meditation on aloneness/loneliness, womanhood, and human connection. She finds magic in the mundane in a way that I find so beautiful and compelling -- the way the narrator describes ordinary simple moments, observes the daily movements of her community, considers her past with her family and how it has made her the person she is.

memoirsofra's review against another edition

5.0

this is a book that takes you on a journey of self-reflection and introspection. the story follows an unnamed protagonist as she navigates through her daily life, exploring her thoughts, emotions, and experiences. through simple yet poignant prose, lahiri effortlessly captures the essence of loneliness, longing, and the complexities of human existence.

whereabouts is a thought-provoking and introspective read. it invites readers to reflect upon their own lives, relationships, and the constant search for meaning and belonging. through its simplicity, the book captures the emotional depth and complexity of our everyday experiences. this novel is reminding us that even in the ordinary, there is beauty, pain, and the potential for profound connections.